How Pranayam Benefits The Brain

24/09/2015 8:18 AM IST
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Updated
15/07/2016 8:25 AM IST

Vikas Mishra/Flickr

In search of peace and happiness.

Pranayam means control of pran or vital force. According to the sage Patanjali it means controlled breathing which includes deep inhaling, exhaling and retention of breath. Pranayam occupies a central position in the Indian yogic system; it is said that liberation of soul is achieved through proper Pranayam and meditation.

Modern medical science has shown unequivocally that Pranayam has benefits for both mind and body. However the exact mechanism of how it works remains a mystery. Recent research has shown that nanoparticles (particle size of 10-30 nanometers which are almost 10-20 times smaller than those emitted in cigarette smoke), can directly reach the brain through nose breathing and bypass the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). This process may throw some light on how Pranayam affects the mind and body.

Medical researchers discovered for the first time in 1941 that small amounts of fine particles that were inhaled through the nose could be lodged in the brain by breaching the BBB. However this field of research remained dormant until the 1990s when scientists, alarmed by rising environmental pollution, revisited the early research and started discovering the harmful effects of toxin invasion of brain through breathing.

"Scientists have found that breathing through one nostril affects the part of the brain on that side..."

Today, rapidly growing research shows that a small part of the air we breathe through our nostrils goes directly to the brain via the olfactory lobe and the rest (major portion) goes to the lungs supplying the necessary oxygen to the blood. Thus the inhaling breath affects both the mind and the body directly. Moreover, the air we breathe has a direct impact on our brain.

Scientists have also found that breathing through one nostril affects the part of the brain on that side, and thus the practice of inhaling through one nostril during Pranayam could be to stimulate that side of the brain and not for cleaning the nostril as explained by some experts. Similarly, deep slow breathing allows enough time for the nanoparticles or pran to pass through the BBB and into the brain.

This has alarming implications for modern living since the inhaled pollution from household and automobile smoke, dust and general industrial environment has the ability to directly go to the brain and affect the nervous system. The increasing incidences of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, etc., have been attributed partly to the toxin invasion of the brain caused by pollution. This could also be a possible reason why second-hand smoke is more dangerous than smoking actively since the exhaled smoke particles go to the brain directly.

Nevertheless if Pranayam is practiced in a clean and open-air environment daily then it can negate the problems of modern life. A possible mechanism is explained below.

It has been known for quite some time now that antibiotics-resistant bacteria get neutralised with fresh air and plenty of sunlight . Researchers are finding that the enclosed environment of hospitals and offices with air conditioning and artificial air breeds disease-causing bacteria. Exposing them to plenty of sunlight and fresh air has brought down the incidence of disease drastically. A possible mechanism for this is that UV radiation of sunlight interacts with nanoparticles in air and produces free radicals and these reactive free radicals when inhaled have tremendous therapeutic value.

In the mountains the proportion of UV rays in sunlight is higher than in the plains and with higher altitude and less pollution the creation of free radicals also increases. Thus a mountain sojourn has always been recommended for improving health. Probably that could also be a reason why rishis and yogis went to mountains to meditate and practice yoga.

"Pranayam acts like enhanced homeopathy where the free radicals from clean air help detoxify the brain and body."

One of the most important aspects of breathing is smell. It is perhaps our most memory-evoking sense. The smell signals from the nose go directly to the limbic system - the seat of emotions. Thus smells evoke deep emotional responses and memories.

Thus, clean crisp mountain air with a whiff of a flowery fragrance literally evokes the abode of gods -Pranayam in such an environment provides the mechanism for detoxifying and cleaning the brain for better meditation and hence liberation. Even in our daily life, we can do Pranayam in open and clean air.

Scientists are also developing brain drug delivery systems through nasal sprays so that it can breach the BBB and go directly to the brain. It is quite possible that this may explain how the homeopathic system of medicine works.

Generally homeopathic medicines are given in the form of small globules which a patient is supposed to suck. Through sucking of pills a small part of the medicine reaches the brain via the olfactory lobe. This helps the brain to trigger the mechanism by which the body releases chemicals to fight the disease. That is why the best way to administer the homeopathic medicines is to spray the liquid directly on the tongue since this allows rapid transfer of the particle mist to the brain via the olfactory lobe. Also, homeopathic medicines are supposed to be taken half an hour before or after food consumption so that food smells do not interfere with the aroma of medicine.

Another interesting aspect of homeopathic medicines is that their potency increases with increasing dilution. There are conflicting reports on why this happens. I feel that increased dilution of medicine allows the BBB to be breached with relative ease resulting in its enhanced effect in the brain.

Thus, Pranayam acts like enhanced homeopathy where the free radicals from clean air help detoxify the brain and body.